Born in Mikkeli, Finland in 1983, Timo Riihonen studied singing with Pekka Kähkönen at the Sibelius-Academy from 2003 to 2008. To complete his studies, for the 2008/09 season he joined the highly acclaimed International Opera Studio in Zurich. Since the beginning of the 2009/10 season he is an ensemble member of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and in 2010 he made his debuts at the Berlin State Opera and La Scala di Milan as Fasolt/Rheingold, both under the baton of Daniel Barenboim.

Mr. Riihonen’s performed roles include such parts as Sarastro/Magic Flute, Commendatore/Don Giovanni, Tom/un ballo in Maschera, Angelotti/Tosca, Sparafucile/Rigoletto or Budd in Britten’sAlbert Herring, besides several productions at the Sibelius Academy. He has also performed Mozart’s Requiem and St. John’s Passion by Bach in Finland as well as in Switzerland.

Timo Riihonen has already won numerous prizes and scholarships including the Matti Salminen scholarship in 2007. He also took Masterclasses with Roland Hermann, Bonaldo Giaiotti, Anna Bergamo, Udo Reineman and had private lessons with Roland Hermann and Harald Stamm.